Lincoln exhibit to open in Washington

Published: Jan. 14, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Order reprints
Slideshow
1 of 2
A life-sized wax figure of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln sits on board a Delta airlines commuter jet after it flew from LaGuardia Airport in New York to Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington on September 20, 2007. The wax figure of Lincoln, along with other wax figures of famous Washingtonians such as Bob Woodward and Duke Ellington, will be main attractions at the new Madame Tussauds wax museum that opens in Washington on October 5. (UPI Photo/Alexis C. Glenn)
A life-sized wax figure of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln sits on board a Delta airlines commuter jet after it flew from LaGuardia Airport in New York to Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington on September 20, 2007. The wax figure of Lincoln, along with other wax figures of famous Washingtonians such as Bob Woodward and Duke Ellington, will be main attractions at the new Madame Tussauds wax museum that opens in Washington on October 5. (UPI Photo/Alexis C. Glenn) | Enlarge Enlarge
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History says it is celebrating the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth with a new exhibition.

Set to open Friday, "Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary Life" is made possible through the support of the Ford Motor Co. Fund, the Richard Lounsbery Foundation and the History Channel.

Showcasing the museum's extensive Lincoln collection, the exhibition will present more than 60 objects associated with Lincoln's life, including an iron wedge he used to split wood in the early 1830s in New Salem, Ill., and the iconic top hat he wore the night he was shot at Ford's Theatre, the museum said.

"We are excited about bringing together for the first time this unique and unparalleled collection of Lincoln objects," Museum Director Brent D. Glass said in a statement. "What better way to celebrate Lincoln's 200th birthday than by telling the story of his extraordinary life?"

"As a whole, the exhibition presents a more personal and intimate look at Lincoln. It reminds us that Abraham Lincoln, whose story has become so mythic, was a real individual. Through all his achievements, successes and tragedies, he led an extraordinary life," added Harry Rubenstein, the exhibition's curator and chair of the museum's division of politics and reform.

The opening of the exhibition will coincide with the museum's debut of "America's New Birth of Freedom: Documents from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum" in the Albert H. Small Documents Gallery.


© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


Bird-nappers target valuable budgies (3 min)
Magnetic brain stimulation helps learning (4 min)
Report: Known defect led to Snowbird crash (10 min)
U.S., Russia to tackle non-proliferation (36 min)
U.S., Russia resume military relations (42 min)
MLB: Toronto 7, New York Yankees 6 (47 min)
Crude oil prices drop Monday (49 min)
You know how they're always telling you how a "tiger can't change his stripes"? Well, they're full...
You want to know why there haven't been 40 threads about the pro-democracy riots in China? Because...
Woman found dead in her backyard fish pond. Police are being koi about possible suspects
3 gunmen, over 100 shots fired, automatic weapons used and about 100 people at the party, yet no...
Bayer gets stiffed by Levitra pill heist. Police have no hard evidence, but are cock-sure they will...
US and Russia agree to reduce their number of nuclear warheads, which makes Obama look good and...